A UKRAINIAN student who could barely speak English when he arrived in Sale five years ago is celebrating after gaining five A levels at grade A.

Sale Grammar School student Pavel Zubko, 18, came to England from Kiev with his family in 1995. He joined the school the following year, after already achieving grade A* at GCSE in Maths and grade A in German.

He encountered language problems to begin with, but this did not stop him gaining nine GCSEs at A and A* two years ago. At the same time, he taught himself A level Maths and ended with another A grade to add to his collection.

The talented pupil will be going to Cambridge University to read Natural Sciences after gaining further top grades in Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Further Maths and General Studies.

Pavel said he felt "relieved" after getting such fantastic results. He said: "I was hoping to do well. It was difficult when I first came here, but after a few months I got used to a new lifestyle.

"It's been a great five years."

A spokesman for the school said: "He has done brilliantly. I think his grade A in General Studies is his best achievement, because it requires a lot of background knowledge of this country.

"Some students from this country struggle with it."

He said Pavel had been like an extra member of staff at the school. He added: "He is a thoroughly modest, unassuming and very cheerful young man."

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